The mystical texts of Judaism grapple with this question, diving deep into the very source of creation. One such text, Da’at Tevunot, offers a profound insight into the Divine intention behind existence. It suggests that at the heart of everything is God's desire to share His goodness. The text tells us that the Master of the Universe, may He be blessed, wanted to bestow Divine emanation – a flowing forth of Himself – to the beings He desired to bring into existence. He innovated, created something entirely new: a radiant, Divine light perfectly suited for the value, the inherent worth, of those beings.
But here’s the crucial point: this Divine emanation, this flow of shefa (abundance), was specifically intended to be holiness itself, emanating from God, the very essence and source of holiness.
Now, what does that mean? Well, the text uses the angels as an example. These celestial beings, the malakhim, are pure holiness, untainted by anything else. That’s because the whole purpose of this Divine emanation is to flow from God’s holiness towards us, towards all created beings.
The goal? That we might benefit from the radiance of His holiness.
It’s not simply about existence, it's about participating in something greater, something intrinsically holy. It's about receiving the light of God's presence.
So, the next time you look around at the world, at the intricate tapestry of life, remember this: according to Da’at Tevunot, at the root of it all is a desire, a Divine yearning, to share holiness, to let the radiance of God's being illuminate everything. And that’s a pretty incredible thought.